2.Antifederalists (pg. 87): those who favored strong state gov't and a weak national gov't and who were opponents of the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787

3.Articles of Confederation (pg. 72): America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national gov't until 1789

4.bicameral (pg. 77): having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses

5.Bill of Rights (pg. 79): the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people

6.checks and balances (pg. 79): mechanisms through which each branch of gov't is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches. Major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments

7.confederation (pg. 72): a system of gov't in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national gov't

8.elastic clause (pg. 81): Art. I, Sec. 8, of the Constitution (aka the necessary and proper clause), which enumerates the powers of Congress and provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry them out

9.electoral college (pg. 79): the presidential electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for president and vice president

10.expressed powers (pg. 81): specific powers granted by the Constitluion to Congress (Article I, Sec. 8) and to the president (Art. II)

11.federalism (pg. 79): a system of gov't in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central gov't and regional gov'ts

12.Federalist Papers (pg. 87): a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay supporting the ratification of the Constitution

13.Federalists (pg. 86): those who favored a strong national gov't and supported the Constitution proposed at the American Constructional Convention of 1787

14.Great Compromise (pg. 76): the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population

15.judicial review (pg. 82): the proper of the courts to review and, if necessary, declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional. The Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison)

16.limited government (pg. 89): a gov't whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution

17.New Jersey Plan (pg. 76): a framework for the Constitution introduced by William Paterson, which called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population

18.separation of powers (pg. 79): the division of gov't power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making

19.supremacy clause (pg. 82): Art. VI of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national gov't and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision

20.Three-fifths Compromise (pg. 78): the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person

21.tyranny ( pg. 89): oppressive gov't that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority

22.Virginia Plan (pg. 76): a framework for the Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, which called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state